Shut Up and Play 9 summer apps that will quiet your kids

Shut Up and Play 9 summer apps that will quiet your kids

You’ve sung “99 Bottles of Pop on the Wall,” played the license plate game and told knock-knock jokes ad nauseam, but you’ve still got another hour till your destination, and your kids are getting squirrelly in the backseat. It’s iPhone time: Pull it out, download one of these apps and enjoy the last leg of your drive—in peace!

Fireworks Toy (free)

Enjoy the magic of July 4 all summer long with this app, which displays fireworks on your screen with a gentle finger tap.

Judy Moody (free)

If your kids are fans of Judy Moody and can’t wait to see the Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer movie, this app should be a treat. It allows them to listen to music from Camryn (featured in the film) and play games, too.

More Grillin’ (99 cents)

You’d never let your kids within 10 feet of your actual barbecue, but this fun app lets them pretend to cook up a tasty outdoor meal. There are plenty of toppings, too, and you can even make S’mores for dessert.

My Little Suitcase (99 cents)

Kids get to pick their dream vacation destination (beach, camp, etc.) and pack for it. Once they arrive, there’s stuff to play and interact with.

Reflecting Pool (99 cents)

This is a good one for when your gang is tired, hot and overstimulated. You can simulate water and rain, replete with the calming sounds of birds, storms and more. Surprisingly soothing for everyone—adults included.

Skee-Ball (99 cents)

Nicely designed app that mimics the classic carnival game. Players just flick their fingers across the screen or make a bowling motion to roll the ball. Tilt the iPhone to add spin. And it’s way cheaper than buying tickets to an amusement park.

Choose a background and use your family’s photos to make your own virtual snow globe (yes, you can even have snow in it). Then post to Facebook, save it or e-mail it to loved ones.

Tie Dye Doodle (99 cents)

If you spent most of summer camp tie-dying T-shirts, you’ll enjoy this game as much as your kids will. Pick a shirt, add rubber bands and then apply the different colors of dye and you’ll have your own groovy (virtual) top.